Ejector mechanism for metal forming presses



Jan. 16, 1940. H, zw z 2,187,479

EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR METAL FORMING PRESSES Filed Dec. 5, 1938 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flflg. 1 HENRY A. ZWIERLEIN HI 5 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 16, 1940. H. A. ZWIERLEIN EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR METAL FORMING PRESSES Filed Dec. (5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY A. ZWIERLEIN I Fig.2:

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, i I I i p I QU NITED' STATES PATE T OFFICE A 12,187,479. y EJECTOR MECHANISM; FOREMETAL FORMING PRliISS ES Henry A.- Zwierlein,-Euc1id, Ohio, assignor to The Ajax Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a. corporation of Ohio v Application December3, 1938 Serial No. 243,836 11 Claims. (ems-s9) V This inventionrelatestoa newand improved Fig. 1 isa front elevation Of a forging p ss ejector-for forgingpresses, and particularly to embodying the principles of the present invenan ejector for forging presses utilizing a crank tion; p operated ram. Fig. 2 isa fragmentary cross sectional view In forging operations on presses of the chara en V011 plane indicated y the line in 5 acter above mentionedfthe heated metal work F and i piece is pressed into contact with the walls of the F is p P View Of e Structure 8- die cavities so intimately that a large amount'of trated in Fig. 1. i heatin the WOI'k'PiQCEPh-SSSS intothe dies sufiih t0 t drawings, t e forging D s 'c iently rapidly so that the'dies frequently are shown'for purposes of illustration is of the up- 10 damaged by such heat. It" is desirable, and often right type and comprises a frame I having laternecessary, therefore, "to ejectthe formed work all-y spaced upright columns 2. The upright piece completely from the die as promptly columns terminate at their lower end in a base possible, or at least to :partially eject the work portion (the pp Surface o w ich S beveled i5 and thereby reduce the area and tightness" of nd pp r s die adju in wed e block ,4. An C ntact between the workpiece and the walls of nvil -5 issupp r d n the'block 4 in turn, the'die cavity. i i J supportsa lower forging die 6. Adjustment of he principal objects of thepresent invention the height of the die 6 is effected by movement are to provide, in aforging press means for more of the Wedge b e 4 e y and rearweldiy 0f quickly ejecting formed articles from the dies to the frame to desired p n provide an ejector which operates to initiate ejecupright Columns Carry Vertical guides l tion of the formed work piecefrom the'dies im'- between Which a a 3 s mounted and u d d mediately upon the beginning of th movement for reciprocating movement vertically. The ram of theram on its returnstroke, and to eject'the 3 is Operated y a p 9 Which s P v y work pieceentirely from the die cavities as soon eohneeted i lower to the mm by a Suit 25 as the 'dies are separated asufiicient distance to able ri D and extends pw y there? permit completion of the ejecting operation, from. v The upper end of the pitman is connected A more specific object isftoprovid'e, in a press 110 a suitable-eccentric II on a driven shaft l2 having-a pitman drivenram,'an)ejector which'is Which y be driven y y Suitable P operated on its ejection stroke by cooperation'of means (not shown). 30 means on the frameandon the ram during the Inthe under face of the ram is fitted a'bearing .;initial part of the ejectingoperation, and by the Plate against Which is sllppOPtHilv ahd.blltcqoperatign of means n-thg ram and dnhthe tressed; an anvil My against which, in turn, '18 pitman during the remainder ofthe ejecting carried an upper die l5. In the illustrative exoperation, the operationsof the ejector by these amp h i B l5are Closed n the s- 35 means being so related that the second means g ope a i Completed S0 theta ed Wor becomes fullyoperative' in adelayed relation to; pie Silehas indicated at s ready for *rethe first means, and the first means becomes in-" Va fIOm die aV ejecting t operative after the second means is fully operawork piece le'frorn the cavityof the upper die I5,

40 tive. j a. suitable ejector is provided, the ejector com- 40 A correlative object istoprovide a latch means prising a lower pin ll having an enlarged diamon theframe, and aco operating member carried eter collar portion ila at its upper end, and a by the ram and which is engaged with the latch separate, cooperating pin l8 thereabove. In the and thereby becomes effective for moving "the ram 8 is a verticalpassage-Hiwhich is aligned ejector on its ejecting stroke during initial move- 7 with a larger passage 20 in the anvil M. The ment of the ram on iits return stroke, and a p s r k' alignedlwith a p ss e crank operated means on the ram arranged to of the die I 5 which opensinto the cavity. These cooperate with said member for completing the passages accommodate thepins l1 and I8, the movement of theejector "on its ejecting stroke collar portionl'la" cooperating with the shoulder and for relieving the latch of any frictional and between the passages 20 and 2| for limiting the other stresses preparatory to moving thelatch out downward'movement of the pins 11 and I8 and of engagement. j l preventing them fromfalling out of position Other objects and advantages will become ape when the dies are separated and the workpiece parentfrom the following specificatiom wherein is removed; A passage 22 is provided in the reference is made-toithe drawings,"inwhich; ramandginztheform illustrated, extends. forboth ends and intersects the passage I9.

wardly and rearwardly thereof and is open at The upper end of the ejector I! extends into the passage 22. 4

Carried by the ram is an ejector operating lever 23. The lever 23 is accommodated in the passage 22 and preferably extends entirely therethrough. At its rear end, the lever 23 is mounted on the ram 8 for swinging or rocking movement in a vertical plane in the passage 22 about a,

fulcrum which is preferably fixed, or substantially so, with respect to the ram; In the form illustrated, this fulcrum comprises a pivot pin 24 fixedly mounted in suitable flange portions 25 of the ram.

The forward end of the lever 23 extends outwardly beyond the front of the ram 8 and into a position to be engaged by lever actuating means which are mounted on the frame I of the press in a fixed position vertically.

The lever actuating means is preferably in the form of a latch comprising a rigid latch element 26 which is connected by a pivot pin 21 to the frame I, so as to swing forwardly and rear- Wardly of the frame in-a vertical plane. The latch element 26 is urged to swing about its pivotal axis and toward the ram or rearwardly of the frame l by means of a suitable return spring 28. The spring 28 is operatively interposed between an abutment on the frame and a suitable abutment on an eye bolt 29 which is connected to a crank arm 30 of the latch element 26. The latch element has a latching abutment 3| which, when the element 26 is moved to its rearward position by the spring 28, lies in the path of movement of the outer end 32 of the lever 23 so as to engage and constrain the outer end of .the lever. from'ascending with the ram. The

abutments 3| and 32 are so positioned that they engage when the ram 8 is at the end of its working stroke and ready to start its return stroke.

The lever 23has an abutment 33 which engages acomplementary abutment 34 of the ram 8. The

interposed between a suitable abutment on the ram and an abutment onthe rod 36. The spring acts to urge the lever to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the abutments 33 and 34 are in contact.

With'the-structure thus far described, it is apparent that as the ram ascends, the pivot 24 rises concurrently therewith, as also does the rear end, of the lever 23. However, due to the cooperation of the abutment 31 of the latch element 26 and the abutment 32 of the forward end of the lever, the forward end of the lever cannot rise with the ram. Instead, the lever swings or rocks about the abutment 3| as a fulcrum. As a result, the central or ejector engaging portion of ample. Consequently, the ejector rises relative to the die 6, but lowers relative to the die l5, thereby ejecting the formed workpiece from the die l while permitting the article concurrently to be ejected from the die 6. The desired relative travel of the ejector and dies 6 is determined to meet the conditions of use of the particular forging press. By changing the location either of the pivot 24 or abutments 3| and 32, corresponding changes being made in the length of the lever 23, the ejector is positioned either nearer to or farther from the pivot 24 than in the illustrative example, thus either decreasing. or increasing the travel of the ejector relative to the dies.

As the ram continues to rise, the lever 23 is constrained by the latch element 26 but it is necessary, if the ram is to continue rising after the lever 23 has reached a predetermined ejecting position, to release the latch element 26 from the lever 23. For this purpose, a cam 31 is provided on the latch element 26, and a corresponding cam 38 is provided on the ram, these cams cooperating to move the latch forwardly of the frame, thereby to displace the abutment 3| from the path of the abutment 32 when the ram rises a predetermined distance on its return stroke.

As the ram descends on a subsequent stroke, the latch element 26 is permitted to be swung inwardly by the spring 28 until it engages the for- Ward face of the lever 23, as soon as the cam 38 moves downwardly I away from the cam 31.

-When the ram is lowered sufficiently, the forward face of the lever 23 moves to a position below the abutment3l, whereupon the latch element is swung into position to re-latch the forward end of the lever 26 and constrain it from upward movement preparatory to the repetition of the cycle. It is apparent that the operation of the ejector by the latchmechanism and lever 23 initiates the ejecting operation of the ejector immediately upon the beginning of movement of the ram on its return stroke.

After the ram is moved a predetermined distance upwardly on its return stroke, it is often desirable to effect movement of the ejector on its ejecting stroke with greater rapidity than would be effected by the cooperation of the latch element 26 and the lever 23. For this purpose, an additional means is provided for operating the lever. This additional means comprises a pin 4|] slidably mounted in a suitable bore 4| extending from the passage 22 to an upwardly exposed face portion of .the ram. The upper end of the pin 40 extends beyond the upper face portion and 'mto a position to be engaged by an operating abutment 42 on the pitman 9.

When the ram starts on its return stroke, the abutment, due to the rocking action of the pitman, approaches the upper end of the pin 40 but does not strike the pin until there has been a substantial upward movement of the ram. The

' rate of approach of the abutment 42 toward the upper end of the pin accelerates as the ram rises and finally engages the pin and forces it downwardly with respect to the ram. The pin 40 engages the lever 23 at a portion which is nearer to the pivot pin 24 than the portion of the lever 23 which is engaged by the latch 26. Consequently, a more rapid movement relatively downwardly with respect to the ram, is imparted to the lever 23 by the pin 40 after the ram has been moved a predetermined distance on its return stroke. In this manner, the initial operation of the ejector is effected by the latch 26 whilethe remainder of the ejecting'action*iseffected by the pin 40 .20 more rapidthan'that eftected 'by; the latch eleand thecooperating abutment 42 of thepitmansp In operation, forexample, in'a press of the general proportioris illustrated, the extent of movementof the ejector pin first'by, the latch '5 andthen'by the pin M-issuch-that anymovement ofthe pin IT by the latch element 26 and lever 23* fora given ram movement is substantially one-half of the ram movementand is effective during thefirst 25 of movement of the shaft 12. When the crank reaches about from the down position of the ram, the pin 46 and latch 26'are operating concurrently tomove theejector pin I! the samedistance. Until this time, no movement of the ejector pin has been effected by the pin 15 it However, after thepitman has been moved another 5 on the returnstroke of; the ram, the pin 40" ismoving the ejector 11 on its ejecting stroke and the latch 'elementZii is ineffective. The movement of theejector by the pin 40 may be ment 2 6;

At this point, an important feature should be noted. During theupward orreturn movementof the'ram 8, the latch element '26 remains eifec 25 tive untilthe pin i-ii becomeseffective, and since thereafter the piiiMiinoVes the lever 23 a greater distance downwardly relative to the ram than it would be moved by the latch, the abutment 3! of thelatch element 2Gis lowered out of engagement withlthe'a'butment 32 of the lever 23. .Thus,by the time the cams 3'! and 38 become effectivathe latch. is freed from all operating and frictional stresses *with obvious advantages including reduction ofl wear on the abutments 3i and 32 and the camsurfaces 31 and-38L M An ejector for the die l6 is provided also and comprises an ejecting pin 50. operated by a suitable barwhich in .turn is operated by a cam (not shown). The bart5l ismoved by its operating cam,'-which may be driven in timed relation to the shaft E2. of the press, in a manner such that the pin 50rises a short distance, for example, approximately one-eighth of an inch in the illustrativelexample, during the initialpart of the idle or. return stroke of theiram and remains in that position until the top die has receded sufiiciently far to permit electing. the" piece entirely-out of the dies.

Thus, immediately upon travel of the ram on its returnzstroke, thework'piece is moved partially out of the upper die 15, and very early during the return stroke, of the ram, the piece it is likewise moved partially out of the bottom die so that the area and period of contact between the work piece and the dies i5 and 6 is reduced to a negligible amount, and promptly thereafter the piece is freed entirely from both dies.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a forging press including a frame, a reciprocable ram, means for driving the ram, a dielcarried by the ram, and an ejector for work formed by the die carried by theram; means for operating the ejector and comprising ejectoroperating means carried by the ram and movable concurrently therewith and relative .thereto, and

- operative, when moved in'one direction relative to theram,to operate the ejector on its ejecting stroke, means operatively engageable with the ejector operating means'upon initial movement of the ram on its return stroke for moving the ejector operating means in the work ejecting di- 1 rection to partiallyeject the work, and additiona1 means operatively connected with the ram and the ejector operating means and operated by continued movement of the ram on its return stroke to eject the work farther.

2. In" a forging" press including a frame, a reciprocable ram, meansfor' driving ther'am, a die carried by the ram, and an ejector for work formed by the die and carried bythe ram; means for operating the ejector and comprising ejector operating means carried by the ram and movable concurrently therewith-and relative thereto, and operative, when moved in one direction relative to-the ram, to operate the ejector on its ejecting stroke, means on the frame operatively engageable with the ejector operating means when the ram moves on its return stroke for moving the ejector'operating means initially in said direction, and means carried by the ram and operative for subsequently moving the ejector'operating means additionally in said direction upon continued movement of-the ram on its return stroke.

3. In a forging press including a'frame, a reciprocable ram, a die carried by the ram, and an ejector for the die and carried by the ram, means for operating the ejector and comprising a member carried by the ram for movement relative to the ram and operative when itis moved relative tothe ram in one direction to move the ejector on its ejecting stroke, a'latch mechanism carried by the i'rame and normally operative to engage the member and constrain the member to movement relative to the ram in said one direction while the ram is moving part way on its return stroke andthereby to effect an ejecting operation of the ejector, and means operated by the ram, when the ram has moved on its return stroke beyond a predetermined position, to release said latch whereby the ejector is free from operation by said latch mechanism during the remainder of the return stroke beyond said position.

4. In a forging press having a frame, a recipro- "cable die-carrying ram, an ejector carried by the ram,'mechanism for reciprocating the ram, and

ejector operating mechanism carried by the ram after the ram has completed an initial portion of its return stroke, and means on the frame and cooperating with the said ejector operating mechanism for actuatingsaid ejector operatingmechanism for moving the ejector initially on its ejecting stroke. 7

5. In a forging press of the type wherein a pitman-operated ram carries a forming die and also an ejecting means which is operable to move formed work outwardly of a cavity of the die, successively acting mechanisms, one of which has a part independent of the ram for acting on the ejecting means to cause it partially to eject work during an initial part of the return stroke of the ram, the other mechanism being operatively connected with the pitman for actuation thereby additionally to operate the ejector.

6. In a forging press including a frame, a reciprocable ram, a pitman for driving the ram, a die carried by the ram, and an ejector for work formed by the die carried by the ram, means for operating the ejector and comprising ejector operating means carried by the ram and movable concurrently therewith and relative thereto, and operative, when moved in one direction relative to the ram, to operate the ejector on its ejecting stroke, means on the frame operatively engageable with the ejector operating means when the ram moves on its return stroke for moving the ejector operating means initially in said direction, and means operatively associating the ejector operating means and pitman for subsequently moving the ejector operating means by the pitman additionally in said direction upon additional movement of the ram on its return stroke.

7. In a forging press including a frame, a reciprocable ram, a die carried by the ram, and an ejector for the die and carried by the ram, mechanism for operating the ejector and comprising means connected to the ram for movement relative to the ram and operative when it is moved relative to the ram in one direction to move the ejector on its ejecting stroke, a mechanism carried by the frame and having an abutment positioned to engage said. means when the ram is moved initially on its return stroke and thereby to eifect movement of the said means relative to the ram in said direction, means carried by the ram and operative to move the abutment out of the path of movement of said first named means when the ram has moved a predetermined distance on its return stroke.

8. In a forging press of the type wherein a reciprocating ram carries a forming die and also an ejecting means which is operable to move formed work outwardly of a cavity of the die, successively acting mechanisms, one of which mechanisms has a part which acts on the ejecting means to cause it partially to eject work during an initial part of the return stroke of the ram, the other mechanism acting to operate the ejecting means more rapidly in the direction to eject work for a predetermined unit of return stroke movement of the ram than does the mechanism which acts during said initial part of the return stroke aforesaid.

9. In a forging press including a frame, a reciprocable ram, a pitman for reciprocating the ram, a die carried by the ram, and ejecting means carried by the ram for work formed by the die, an abutment carried by the frame and operative to engage a part of said ejecting means when the ram is moved initially on its return stroke so as initially to move the work outwardly of the die, said abutment and part being relatively movable in such a manner that one can pass the other during further movement of the ram on its return stroke, means operated by the pitman to effect further ejecting of work when the ram has completed afurther predetermined part of its movement on its returnstroke, said pitman operated means being adapted and arranged to cause an overrunning movement of said part of the ejecting means relative to the abutment engaged thereby at an initial part of the operation of the pitman operated means whereby to separate the abutting surfaces, and means adapted and arranged then to effect said relative movement of the abutment and said part of the ejecting means for enabling one to pass the other as aforesaid.

I 10. In a forging press including a frame, a reciprocable ram, a pitman for reciprocating the ram,-a die carried by the ram, and an ejector carried by the ram for work formed by the die; mechanism for operating the ejector and comprising means carried by the ram for concurrent movement relative to and with the ram in one direction to move the ejector on its ejecting stroke, a movable abutment carried by the frame and operative to engage a part of said means when the ram is moved initially on its return stroke thereby to effect movement of the said means relative to the ram in said direction,

means operated by the pitman to effect more rapid movement of said first means additionally in said direction when the ram has completed apredetermined part of its movement on its returnstroke, said pitman operated means and the movable abutment being in operating relationship to the first named means concurrently during part of said movement of the ram whereby the abutment and the part engaged thereby are separated. by the difference in rapidity of the effected movements described, and means operated by the ram to cause the abutment to be moved out of the path of movement of said part which it engages after such separation.

11. In a forging press including a frame, a. reciprocable ram, a pitman for reciprocating the ram, a die carried by the ram, and an ejector carried by the ram for ejecting work formed by the die; mechanism carried by'the ram and operable to actuate the ejector on its ejecting stroke, and means on the pitman and operatively associated with the mechanism for operating said mechanism when the pitman is operated for moving the ram on the return stroke of the ram.

HENRY A. ZWIERLEDI. 

